Published: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 6:12 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 6:12 a.m.

"The Hunger Games" generated plenty of interest in DuPont State Forest and in less than two weeks, hundreds of runners will be competing where the blockbuster movie was filmed as they take part in the third annual Morris Broadband Half Marathon.

The race, which is set for 8:30 a.m. April 21 and is limited to 350 participants, has sold out the past two years. Fletcher Parks and Recreation's Greg Walker, who has organized marathons at DuPont for the past nine years, is hoping this year's will sell out as well, and so far, things are looking good.

"As of the beginning of April, we have 145 registered and we always get a lot more right before race day," he said. "We changed the date, and when we did, it is conflicting with the Smoky Relay Race, a race for elite runners along the Blue Ridge Parkway. That took away most of our elite runners from the field, but we will still have a great race."

Aaron Saft is another elite runner who is a regular and who has won the DuPont State Forest Trail Marathon in the past. He also had to respectfully decline but for another reason.

"Aaron's son's first tee ball game is that Saturday, so he's got a pretty good reason for not coming," Walker said.

Saft became fatigued and dehydrated near the end of last year's race, and an old friend came to his rescue: Hendersonville's David Workman. After Workman finished runner-up to Justin TeBockhorst, he kept running toward the coolers and got a bottle of water. He then ran back down the course and reached Saft, who was just emerging slowly from the woods.

Workman gave Saft the water, and he ran back with him to the finish line as Saft ended up fourth.

Workman has entered this year's race and is one of the race favorites, along with veteran marathon runner Lydia O'Dell of Brevard on the women's side.

"We have runners from seven states right now, and the big thing that's different this year is that we have more female runners...I'd say about 60 percent of the field," Walker said.

New this year is the postrace Vendor Village that will feature the several of WNC's running gear companies on site from 9 a.m. to noon.

There's still plenty of time to register. The deadline is the week of April 15, and the first 200 to register receive a Brooks Tech shirt and a Diamond Brand running visor.

Registration is $70 per runner at either active.com or at FootRx Running. There will be no race-day registration.

<p>"The Hunger Games" generated plenty of interest in DuPont State Forest and in less than two weeks, hundreds of runners will be competing where the blockbuster movie was filmed as they take part in the third annual Morris Broadband Half Marathon.</p><p>The race, which is set for 8:30 a.m. April 21 and is limited to 350 participants, has sold out the past two years. Fletcher Parks and Recreation's Greg Walker, who has organized marathons at DuPont for the past nine years, is hoping this year's will sell out as well, and so far, things are looking good.</p><p>"As of the beginning of April, we have 145 registered and we always get a lot more right before race day," he said. "We changed the date, and when we did, it is conflicting with the Smoky Relay Race, a race for elite runners along the Blue Ridge Parkway. That took away most of our elite runners from the field, but we will still have a great race."</p><p>Aaron Saft is another elite runner who is a regular and who has won the DuPont State Forest Trail Marathon in the past. He also had to respectfully decline but for another reason.</p><p>"Aaron's son's first tee ball game is that Saturday, so he's got a pretty good reason for not coming," Walker said. </p><p>Saft became fatigued and dehydrated near the end of last year's race, and an old friend came to his rescue: Hendersonville's David Workman. After Workman finished runner-up to Justin TeBockhorst, he kept running toward the coolers and got a bottle of water. He then ran back down the course and reached Saft, who was just emerging slowly from the woods.</p><p>Workman gave Saft the water, and he ran back with him to the finish line as Saft ended up fourth.</p><p>Workman has entered this year's race and is one of the race favorites, along with veteran marathon runner Lydia O'Dell of Brevard on the women's side.</p><p>"We have runners from seven states right now, and the big thing that's different this year is that we have more female runners...I'd say about 60 percent of the field," Walker said.</p><p>New this year is the postrace Vendor Village that will feature the several of WNC's running gear companies on site from 9 a.m. to noon.</p><p>There's still plenty of time to register. The deadline is the week of April 15, and the first 200 to register receive a Brooks Tech shirt and a Diamond Brand running visor.</p><p>Registration is $70 per runner at either active.com or at FootRx Running. There will be no race-day registration.</p>